However, here's a good sign: Palm posted a job on June 11th on LinkedIn for a "Senior Product Manager - webOS Smartphones." Although the buyout hasn't officially happened yet, but we have to assume that at this stage of the game HP has a cursory, advisory, or even a dictatory role in deciding which important positions to fill at Palm.

From the job description, it appears that the position is important indeed:

In this fast-paced, highly visible, challenging and coveted role, you will oversee the definition, launch and lifecycle management for our smartphone products. You must be an effective communicator with strong technical skills who can drive the definition and execution of our next generation smartphones. The ideal candidate will balance business acumen and a technical understanding of mobile operator & end user requirements with Palm's capabilities & strengths to deliver world-class, innovative smartphones to both the domestic and international markets.

We wish Palm success in finding the right candidate. It appears that smartphones will remain a crucial line for HP's Palm division.

maybe you should taken the time to read the whole article including the job decription. I really don't think this person would be in charge USB cords or anything like that. I would really know what Palm has been working on just like everyone else on here. With this buyout soon to take place I'm sure Palm may not be able to give us any details on any up coming devices but the fact that they posted this job on June 11 is a clear sign that HP will at least at first alow Palm to be Palm.

Well, maybe I did read it, twice. Upper management candidates are not solicited on the company websites or job boards. Middle management positions are done that way, and they always "play up" the candidates role within the company. One of the first things that happens early in the first interview is a redefinition of what they're really looking for, with an explanation that "this position is a springboard to...". Rubi didn't get his job from monster.com, or Palm.com...

No, not at all. I don't know the specifics of Palm's positions and structure, but at many places, product managers are on the same level as and analogous to software engineers and testers. This is likely the PM equivalent of "senior software engineer." Product manager usually means someone that works on requirements engineering and the business side rather than actual development, though they still need to be technically qualified.

I'm just trying to clarify since "senior" might imply to some people that they are somehow managing a department or something, that's not really the case. If someone's a "senior software engineer" it doesn't mean they are head of engineering, though it might mean they're heading up development of a specific team or project.

um I'm pretty sure a ceo type position would not be posted this way but who cares!! I definitely think the whole homebrew community would more than qualify for these positions. They know what the current palm market base is looking for in a smartphone. Apply homebrew guys and let us know how it works out.

This posting really doesn't reveal much beyond a continuing interest in smartphones; my early "handler" at Palm was the Senior Product Manager and he left last month. (He'd been around since the PalmOS days.) It would seem to me that all this posting does is indicate they're filling the position he vacated.

(A "handler" is a person developers talk to at Palm regarding any questions on webOS, capabilities, and etc--basically he was helping with developer relations really early on last year in addition to being Sr. Product Manager. Also, a Sr. Product Manager is nowhere near the level of CEO.)

Is no one else concerned about the meaning behind this? Why do they need an external person to be a "Senior Product Manager - webOS Smartphones"? Doesn't this seem to indicate a ship at sea advertising for a captain?

Don't get too excited. Product Manager is NOT a high level job, and typically the person may be one of several PMs each handling a different product. He will not be some executive driving an entire product area. But who knows? Maybe this guy is being hired to manage the elusive C40 !!! ;-)

I agree a product manager is not a high level position but it's an important position. Especially when that product is a smartphone. That just lets us know that Palm will continue to make smartphone and we know they will run webOS. For me this is a good news.

Well, it really does not matter if it is a high or low level job. To make a business run you need low level and high level. What this shows is that they are STILL highering and showing a continued interest in smart-phones. You people sure like drama!